CCC 27-3

PASS IT ON

r instead sneak in short fishing trips all over the country where we were ministering. Getting to work and fish with your best friend is a gift. It staggers me, but Gary has been with the Lord for more than a decade. Yet, like yesterday, I can see in my mind’s eye his countless times talking about “that little widow woman”—not just talking about her but living life like her. Remember this woman pictured by Jesus in Luke 18? He shares about a woman who lined up every day, con fident that today would be “the” day she would finally receive justice! However, she was sent back home every day with no justice and no open door. Yet, there she was the next day, and the next day, until the door finally opened with the aid of an unrighteous, but prayerfully worn-out, judge. That is such a powerful way of doing life—continually lining up, staying ready to believe another door will open when the one you have been waiting for stays closed, constantly praying and believing. That is what I saw and marveled at with Gary. I have never met anyone as excit ed about a door closing as him. It just gave him anoth er chance to show up excited and ready for a brighter future—for that closed door to open or an even better one to show up.

I pray the Lord has put a Gary in your life or that He will soon bring you an “open door” person like I had. That kind of faith inspires us and keeps us in the fight when things are tough and the door is closed. I pray we will all become someone like that for others, especially those we see facing closed doors. ;

John Trent, Ph.D., is the President of StrongFamilies.com and leads Cam elback Life Coaching with his eldest daughter, Kari Trent Stageberg. They co-authored the Focus on the Family book, Where Do I Go From Here? Join them as a LifeMapping® Coach to help people capture the pictures of their life story and start moving toward God’s best at www.StrongFamilies.com.

Endnotes 1 Lewis, C.S. (1966). Letters of C.S. Lewis. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. 2 Lewis, C.S. (2015). The problem of pain. HarperOne.

36 Christian Counseling Connection